Best Places to Eat in Paris

While Paris is well-known for its fashion and art, it's easy for many to forget about the amazing cuisine that can be discovered there. The gastronomy has morphed over the centuries, but the interest hasn't changed. Paris is huge, and the city has a plethora of options to choose from. What are some of the best places to eat in Paris? AOL Travel takes a look.

Best Places to Eat in Paris: Fine Dining Category

Considered both a New York Times top pick and a top 10 restaurant on TripAdvisor.com, Taillevent has been pleasing taste buds since it opened in 1946. Blending the latest trends in French gastronomy with top-notch service, this Michelin two-star restaurant is one of the top places to go for a complete dining experience. Such quality does come at a price, however: be prepared to pay handsomely. And don't forget to wear your best attire when you go.

Taillevent: 15 rue Lamennais, 75008 Paris, France 01.44.95.15.01

Another top pick from the New York Times, Carré des Feuillants is often considered great value for a Michelin star restaurant. The restaurant has turned into a popular lunch destination, offering a reasonable "Temptation" lunch menu at 88€ with drinks, 58€ without. Try the surprisingly delicious mango and passion fruit ravioli for dessert. Note that the wine list can be a little overwhelming. While the server can make suggestions, do a little research about French wines before you go.

Carr é des Feuillants: 14 rue de Castiglione, 75001 Paris, France 01.42.86.82.82

Best Places to Eat in Paris: Moderate Category

It's difficult to categorize the famous Parisian restaurant Le Relais de Venise. Known simply as L'Entrecôte to most locals, this family-ran affair has turned into quite the institution, spawning similar restaurants in other parts of the world. L'Entrecôte somehow manages to do brisk business despite offering one menu option: steak-frites. (In other words, if you don't eat beef, this place isn't for you.) Diners say that the secret is in the sauce. When you enter, simply state how you want your steak cooked. You'll get their traditional salad, steak-frites, and a choice of five wines from their family-owned vineyard. It's not unusual at all for wait times of an hour, so don't be shocked. Most say that the wait, however, is definitely worth it, especially for one of the best restaurants in Paris.

Le Relais de Venise: 271 boulevard Pereire, 75017 Paris, France 01.45.74.27.97

Paris' Citrus Etoile remains somewhat an enigma. Many diners leave surprised at the quality received for the price. Others advise to enjoy the restaurant before it lands its fancy Michelin star. Yet after several years, Citrus Etoile doesn't have its star. Granted, Paris is a tough city to compete in, but it still hasn't kept owner Gilles Epié from providing amazing food for very reasonable prices. Oh, and the pretentiousness found in many of Paris' Michelin restaurants is mostly absent at Citrus, with Gilles and wife Elizabeth never taking themselves too seriously. Drop in for the 49€ business lunch. I hear the duck burgundy is where it's at.

Citrus Etoile: 6 rue Arsène Houssaye, 75008 Paris, France 01.42.89.15.51

Best Places to Eat in Paris: Budget Category

In Paris' sea of competition for fine dining, it's easy to forget that cheap but tasty eats still exist. That's where Pink Flamingo Pizza comes in. Ran by a former New Yorker, this chain of pizza shops in Paris specializes in using a non-traditional variety of ingredients to keep pizza fans interested. With the New York Times even calling this a top pick for cheap eats, the folks at Pink Flamingo Pizza must be doing something right! Ok, maybe some of the locations aren't as spacious as your typical French restaurants, and perhaps the décor isn't opulent. What you do get though is tasty pizza on the cheap, and for many people, that makes it one of the best places to eat in Paris.

Pink Flamingo Pizza: 67 rue Bichat, 75010 Paris, France 01.42.02.31.70

Somewhat of an underground favorite, Mi-Va-Mi offers up some of the best falafel you can find in all Paris. Tucked away in central Paris, it's still relatively easy to miss Mi-Va-Mi, but you shouldn't. Pitas are overflowing with falafel and veggies, and their special red sauce adds a little extra zing to an already delicious meal. Even with beer added in, you can walk away from here without spending a lot of money. The service is friendly, too!

Mi-Va-Mi: 23 rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris, France 01.42.71.53.72

Photo by Bolshakov, from Flickr